Under starter’s orders for return of punters

Organisers of the Galway Races remain hopeful that they’ll be able to get 5,000 punters through the gates each day at this month’s festival – with vaccinations at Ballybrit to continue alongside the racing.

Despite Nphet’s pessimistic forecast for the summer, the Races’ Chief Executive Michael Maloney told the City Tribune he was optimistic that their plans to welcome crowds of 5,000 each day could proceed.

“We are working with the Government directly, and Horse Racing Ireland. We don’t yet have a timeframe for any announcement, but obviously from our point of view, the sooner the better,” said Mr Maloney.

“On Monday [before the extension of restrictions on hospitality], we were fairly confident, but we remain hopeful and we are still working on making it happen.”

While the Races went ahead last summer behind closed doors, it was the crowd that made the summer festival what it was, he continued.

“All the top jockeys and trainers will be there, but it’s the people who make it – everybody at this stage is looking for anything that gets us back to some sense of normality and it would be very welcome if we could proceed,” said Mr Maloney.

International travel is set to return on July 19 and it has been indicated that there will be some easing of restrictions on indoor dining by that date also, said Mr Maloney. So the prospects of a larger gathering at an outdoor event such as the races looked promising. The Races will run from Monday, July 26 to Sunday, August 1.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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